If you are suffering from the pain of dry socket after a tooth extraction, you may wonder if there are any home remedies to treat it. Below is a three-step treatment for reducing the pain and swelling. The ingredients can all be found in pharmacies, health food stores, and supermarkets.

Step 1:  Rinse With Warm Salt Water

The first thing you need to do is rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Not only will this add moisture to the area, but the salt will pull the inflammation out of the gum tissue. It will also clean food particles out of the socket that could be irritating it.

In a small glass, mix two tablespoons of table salt with a quarter cup of warm water. Swish the salt water around in your mouth for two minutes. Then, spit it out and go on to the second step.

Step 2:  Apply A Turmeric And Clove Oil Paste

After rinsing your mouth, apply a homemade paste made from turmeric powder and clove oil. Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory that will clean and soothe the swollen tissue. The clove oil desensitizes the nerve endings, giving you almost instant relief from the pain.

Using a cotton swab, mix together a quarter of a teaspoon of turmeric and five drops of clove oil. Let the powder dissolve for 10 minutes before using. If the paste is too gritty, add a drop of clove oil at time until it is creamy.

Apply the paste to your socket using a clean cotton swab. Place a piece of gauze over the socket and let the paste soak in for 30 minutes. Then, rinse your mouth with warm water and proceed to the next step.

Step 3:  Use A Cotton Ball Soaked In Peppermint Oil

Like the clove oil in the previous step, peppermint oil provides pain relief on contact. When allowed to soak into the gum tissue, it numbs the nerve endings and gives you relief from discomfort for a couple of hours.

Saturate a single cotton ball with the peppermint oil. Place it directly over the dry socket and leave it in place for 15 minutes. Remove it but do not rinse, eat, or drink for an hour to allow it to fully penetrate the gum.

Doing the above home remedy steps three times a day will give you relief from your dry socket symptoms. However, if you start to notice a sharp increase in pain or discolored discharge, you may want to make an appointment with a dentist (such as one from Randolph Dental Group)  in case they need to prescribe another course of treatment.